She entered the school in Oliver's arms. It had been restored to its originality but revamped to accommodate the resistance members and freed slaves. "I want to see everything," she said.
"You need rest. I don't know what Malfoy did to you but you need rest." He went up through the castle to Dumbledor's office. It had been converted to his office/room. The desk was covered in parchments; she spotted a few from herself. She could see a couch, covered in blankets and pillows in the sitting room behind the desk.
"I don't really sleep much," he apologized and moved towards it, shifting her to an upright position while he pulled out his wand. Pointing it, he mumbled a few words. The couch changed into a four-posted canopy bed. Swinging her back into his arms, he went in and deposited her down onto the bed, pulling the covers back and tucking her in. "Sleep. I have some things to take care of but I'll be right through here if you need me." He kissed her on the forehead gently. "You're safe here."
She nodded but didn't let go of his hand.
He looked down into her eyes. She was emotionally drained and scared. He couldn't leave her like this. He motioned her to move over and slid into the bed beside her.
She moved so that her head was in his lap, her arms draped loosely around his waist, and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she was breathing deeply, asleep.
He watched her for a few minutes then gently pried himself free, kissing her temple, and went back to the desk, sitting down, watching her sleeping peacefully. His gaze stayed for a few moments then he turned around and started in on his work.
She woke up just as the sun was sinking. Its rays sparkled on the lake and she watched it for a few moments, remembering her first year when they'd crossed it in the magical skiffs. She's been so excited to be accepted – it had been such an honour. And for what? They hadn't even been able to graduate. She rolled over to see Oliver at the desk, a man standing in front of him, giving a report.
She felt much better and climbed out of bed. She started towards him and he looked up, hearing her.
"That'll be all, thanks, Jordie…" he said. "Just leave it on the desk and I'll read it later… thanks…"
The man nodded and left.
Oliver stretched out a hand to her. "Feeling better?"
She nodded and took it. "What are you working on?"
"Just paperwork. Did you sleep well?" He pulled her towards him and she settled in his lap while he rubbed soothing circles into her back.
"Yes, thanks." She leaned her head into his shoulder. "What's going to happen now that Malfoy's been captured?"
"We go after Voldemort himself… Malfoy was the last that we needed in order to find out where Voldemort is."
She frowned. Something had been bothering her since he'd come to her room in the middle of the night. "Oliver, did you know that Malfoy was in the room when you came to me and told me that you were in Dover?"
He smiled. "Nothing gets by you, does it Hermoine? Yes. It was a set-up. All of it. I disguised my bag as an owl up in the owlery and then came down to see you. I knew he'd followed you and so it was perfect. Everything happened according to plan. It was a stroke of luck when you came to visit me and he healed me in the cell."
She closed her eyes. "How could you put yourself into danger like that?"
"I had to. We had to know who else was on Voldemort's committee. So, I volunteered because I knew it would be perfect to get you and the information out in one go…"
She looked him in the eye. "That was very dangerous, Oliver."
He shrugged. "Yes, well, there's not much left in this world that isn't…"
She closed her eyes. "Still, you shouldn't have done it. I would have been fine. I'd've found a way out."
"I know you would've." He kissed her temple. "But I would've been a wreck waiting for you. Felt nice to beat the stuffing out of Malfoy though…"
She laughed for the first time in a long time. It felt good. She snuggled closer to him and breathed him in. It was a comfortable smell, a woodsy, fresh and clean smell, like just after the rain when you walk through the woods. She sighed.
His arms tightened around her. "God, Hermione," he breathed, his voice right beside her ear. "You could kill me right now and I'd die a happy man…"
She smiled into his shoulder. "Oh, Oliver…"
They sat still for a few moments, revelling in being together and safe. "I'm going to marry you, Hermione."
She pulled back to look him in the face. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Oliver," she said sadly.
"I won't, I promise," he replied, a slight smile on his face as he leaned in to kiss her lightly. "But I will marry you."